MODERN DRUMMER
Review of Dream Theater's album Images And Words.
May 1993DREAM THEATERImages And Words
Atco 7 92148-4Kevin Moore: kybd
John Myung: bs
John Petrucci: gtr
James Labrie: vcl
Mike Portnoy: dr
Pull Me Under; Another Day; Take The Time; Surrounded; Metropolis Part 1; Under A Glass Moon; Wait For Sleep; Learning To Live

Directly in the vein of Rush, Queensryche, and Fates Warning, Dream Theater displays a potpourri of '70s-style prog-rock on
their latest release. Images And Words (their major label debut) features lengthy and dramatic arrangements,
intense, intelligent songwriting, and brilliant musical performances. But far from a wanna-be band, Dream Theater establishes
its own creative niche and sweeping vision with truly captivating compositions.

The same can be said for Mike Portnoy, who constructs drumming masterpieces out of an endless series of syncopated grooves,
blistering fills, and mind-blowing rhythms. From cut to cut, Portnoy stamps his signature on a variety of styles, from hard-edged
metal ("Pull Me Under" and "Metropolis") to funk ("Take The Time") to soft rock ("Another Day" and "Surrounded").

Portnoy nearly crosses the line of overplaying. But like Neil Peart, Scott Rockenfield, and Mark Zonder have done for their
respective bands, Portnoy stays true to the music, making it all flow and bend together with a strong sense of dynamics, song structure and
dramatic flair.

Some say that progressive rock died when bands like Yes and Genesis began catering to the mainstream. But with Images And Words, Dream
Theater proves itself a true torchbearer.